CTV News Halifax Fined For Showing Young Offenders' Faces

CTV pleaded guilty to violating the act during a court appearance last month.

HALIFAX — CTV News in Halifax was handed a $4,000 fine Monday for showing the faces of two alleged young offenders during a broadcast last August.

In an agreed statement of facts read during a sentencing hearing in provincial court, Crown attorney Terry Nickerson said the broadcaster violated a publication ban on the identities of the two teens involved in a youth court case in Halifax on Aug. 24.

Nickerson said the faces of the two youths were clearly shown without attempts to block their identities during the 6 p.m. news broadcast on Aug. 24.

However, Nickerson said there was no intention by CTV to intentionally breach the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

"CTV also, on its own initiative as soon as they had identified the error, immediately purged the visual and stopped any repeat broadcast of the identifying visuals,'' Nickerson told the court.

Judge Michael Sherar said he concurred with the Crown and defence and called the fine a ``fit and proper sentence'' given that there wasn't a distinct intention by CTV to break the law.

Outside court Nickerson said the fine was appropriate given the circumstances.

"Quite frankly there was no aggravating circumstances other than the offence itself. I've had some detailed discussions with their counsel as to changes of policy so it doesn't happen again.''

CTV pleaded guilty to violating the act during a court appearance last month.